U.S. Considers Expanding Travel Ban Over 40 Countries Amid Security Concerns

TDT | Manama

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The Trump administration is contemplating imposing sweeping travel restrictions on the citizens of 41 countries, according to sources familiar with the issue and an internal memo obtained by Reuters. This potential new travel ban, which is still under review and has not been finalized, could significantly affect travelers from nations that have been deemed insufficient in addressing security concerns.

An anonymous U.S. official revealed that the proposed restrictions, which could change before final approval, are being evaluated by various key officials, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The memo lists the 41 countries in three separate categories:

Full Visa Suspension:

Citizens from the following countries could face a complete suspension of U.S. visas:

Afghanistan

Cuba

Iran

Libya

North Kore

Somalia

Sudan

Syria

Venezuela

Yemen

Partial Visa Suspension:

Certain types of visas, such as tourist, student, and other categories, could be restricted for these nations:

Eritrea

Haiti

Laos

Myanmar

South Sudan

Countries Recommended for Partial Suspension:

These nations could face a partial suspension unless they address specific deficiencies in their security protocols:

Angola

Antigua and Barbuda

Belarus

Benin

Bhutan

Burkina Faso

Cabo Verde

Cambodia

Cameroon

Chad

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Dominica

Equatorial Guinea

Gambia

Liberia

Malawi

Mauritania

Pakistan

Republic of the Congo

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Saint Lucia

Sao Tome and Principe

Sierra Leone

East Timor

Turkmenistan

Vanuatu

While the memo suggests that these restrictions could impact millions of travelers, a final decision has yet to be made. The U.S. administration's move to tighten entry from certain countries follows its broader focus on national security and efforts to address perceived vulnerabilities in immigration processes.

Further details regarding the specific reasoning behind these recommendations are not yet public, and officials emphasize that the list could be subject to revisions before any action is taken.